John Cletheroe's
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Road Signs In The USA And Canada
The information on this page, although extensively checked and believed to be correct, is completely unofficial and is provided for general guidance purposes only.
Introduction
This page contains brief explanations of some roads signs used in the United States and Canada. For an index of all road signs refer to the Road Sign Index.
Adopt-A-Highway
A sign listing the names of local citizens or organisations who have volunteered to keep a stretch of highway free of litter.
Advance Green When Flashing
In Canada, the road sign "Advance Green When Flashing" at a intersection controlled by traffic lights means that the left turn is on a filter (i.e. the traffic in the opposite direction is stopped), that this occurs before traffic going straight on is released, and that the left turn traffic light will flash green during this time.
Related Subjects
Anchor Symbol
A road sign with a ship's anchor symbol indicates a marina.
BR, B.R. Bus., Bus. Rte, or Business Route
The wording "BR", "B.R.", "Bus.", "Bus. Rte." or "Business Route" under a highway marker shield, on a map or in directions indicates a business route, which is the opposite of a bypass.
A business route is a conventional road through a town, while the main road will bypass the town and will normally be a controlled access divided highway (freeway or expressway).
Business route highway marker shields usually have the same shape of shield as Interstates but are coloured light green.
Bridge Out
This road sign indicates that a bridge has either collapsed or unsafe to cross. Unless the incident occurred very recently, in most cases there will be a signposted detour.
Buckle-Up
A reminder that all occupants (driver, front passenger and rear passengers) must wear seat belts at all times.
Dead End
This road sign indicates a cul-de-sac. The alternative "No Outlet" road sign has very nearly the same meaning. Heber Farnsworth kindly sent me this note explaining the differences between these similar signs:
"Not a Through Street" means that there is another way out, but not on the road you're travelling. "No Outlet" means there are other roads connected, but the one you're on is the only entrance/exit to the area. "Dead End" means the road you're on ends without branching or connecting.
Detour
A detour sign may often indicate only a very short detour, for example via a temporary bridge when the normal bridge is being repaired or replaced. Lengthy detours via alternative roads are relatively rare in the USA and Canada.
Divided Highway
A divided highway is a dual carriageway. The "Divided Highway" road sign shows the two carriageways of a divided highway running horizontally with a short vertical bar crossing them. The sign indicates that the road you are on is approaching an intersection with a divided highway with a median (central reservation) between its two carriageways. In particular it acts as a warning that through traffic will have to cross both carriageways and that traffic turning left must do so into the far carriageway.
Do Not Pass
The road sign "Do Not Pass means "no overtaking", or in other words "do not pass other vehicles".
It does not mean "no entry", nor "do not proceed beyond this point", as visitors from other countries might perhaps think.
Draw Bridge
This road sign is used to warn of an opening bridge of any type. James Cloninger of Columbus Ohio, who describes himself as a frequent driver in the US and Britain, kindly sent me this comment:
These are large signs over the highway, with warning lights when the bridge is preparing to raise or if it has already been raised. Often, there will be gates at the edges of the bridge to stop traffic.
Exit Only
A rectangular (landscape) sign with a yellow background and the black wording "EXIT ONLY", mounted above a lane on an Interstate or other divided highway (dual carriageway) which only leads to an off ramp and exit. Downward pointing arrows indicate which lane the sign refers to.
To avoid being trapped in an Exit Only lane you usually need to merge left.
Exit Only lanes are extremely common in large towns and cities but relatively rare out in the country.
Occasionally the wording "Right Lane Must Turn Right" is used in these circumstances but that sign is far more common at junctions between normal roads in towns.
Flagger, Flagger Ahead and Flagman Ahead
Sometimes these signs take the form of wording, sometimes a drawing of a person holding out a flag.
At construction (road works) single alternate line traffic is usually controlled by flaggers (men and women with flags) rather than by temporary traffic lights. "Flagger" is the politically correct term for a flagman, since many of them are women.
Pilot cars are sometimes used to guide traffic through road works.
Flares
On one occasion I saw a number of small but very bright flares burning on the road surface, laid there by a truck driver to warn of an accident ahead. If you see flares, assume that there is a serious danger ahead and slow down. Other signs such as warning triangles and flashing hazard lights are often used.
Heber Farnsworth kindly sent me this note on the subject of flares and warning triangles:
Red flares are always carried by police and often by the public as a general emergency warnings. For example, if I have a flat tyre, accident etc and cannot get fully clear
of the road I'll set a flare to warn traffic of the upcoming hazard. Truckers often use red reflective triangles for the same purpose.
Frost Heaves
Mounds in a road surface caused by subterranean ice formed during cold weather. Road signs warning of such mounds use that name.
Grooved Pavement
In American English the word pavement refers to the road surface which vehicles drive on.
I think this sign warns of the road surface found on some roads, especially some freeways in Los Angeles, with grooves parallel to the direction of travel. On the other hand, it might be used to warn generally of a rough road surface.
James Cloninger of Columbus, Ohio kindly sent me this description:
Often when the road is being resurfaced, and the top layer of the mac is removed, the surface may be grooved, and rather rough. Care should be taken when driving on a grooved surface, especially in wet weather.
HC
A road sign with the black letters "HC" inside a green circle indicates a hazardous cargo route, in other words a route which must be followed by trucks carrying hazardous cargoes.
Keep Off Median
The median is the central reservation between the two carriageways of a divided highway (dual carriageway). This road sign reminds drivers that they must not drive or park on the median.
Merge
Diamond shaped merge warning road signs are often seen where freeway on ramps (entrance slip roads) join the main freeway. The images in these signs nearly always indicate whether an on ramp merges with the freeway's slow lane or continues so as to form an additional lane. Beware of an on ramp lane forming an additional lane and then becoming an Exit Only lane, sometimes within a very short distance.
No Outlet
This road sign indicates a cul-de-sac. The alternative "Dead End" road sign has very nearly the same meaning - see "Dead End" on this page for details.
Not A Through Road
See "Dead End" on this page.
One Vehicle Per Green
This road sign is used in conjunction with on ramp metering, a system which controls traffic entering a busy freeway. The sign indicates that each time the traffic light turns green only one vehicle should pass it.
Open Range
A warning that the road is unfenced and drivers should beware of livestock and other animals.
Parallel Parking Only
This road sign means that you must park with the side of your vehicle parallel to the side of the road, not at an angle to it. This rule usually applies on narrow streets where there is insufficient room for vehicles to park at an angle to the kerb. Also, you must always park in the same direction as the traffic on that side of the road.
Related Subjects
Pavement Ends
In the USA and Canada the road surface is the pavement. Pedestrians walk on the sidewalk, vehicles drive on the pavement.
The "Pavement Ends" road sign warns that the road shortly becomes unpaved (gravel, etc).
The sign is diamond shaped with a yellow background containing a vertical black rectangle, the bottom half of which is solid, the top half dotted, indicating a solid road surface changing to a gravel road surface. Alternatively an equivalent sign with wording can be used.
PED XING
The "PED XING" road sign indicates that you are approaching a pedestrian crossing.
Railroad Depot (Train Station)
The road sign indicating the direction to a railroad depot has a drawing of a platform and a locomotive, viewed head-on. The sign depicts a modern diesel locomotive, which looks very seriously out of place on the railroad depot signs in Durango and Silverton, Colorado.
Ramp Signal On
This road sign is used in conjunction with on ramp metering, a system which controls traffic entering a busy freeway. This sign will be found just after the start of an on ramp and will be lit when the on ramp metering system is active. The actual on ramp metering traffic light will be located a short distance further on.
Ride With Traffic
This is a sign for cyclists. It indicates that cyclists must ride in the same direction as other vehicles, or that there is no special lane for cyclists. It is often seen at the end of bike lanes.
Rotary
Roundabout. Roundabouts are extremely rare in the USA and Canada. In some areas they are called rotaries and road signs warning of them use that name.
School Bus Stop Ahead
School buses pick up children from their homes in the morning and drop them off again after school. If a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and/or its stop sign extended then you must stop at least 100 feet from the bus, regardless of whether you are travelling in the same direction as the bus or in the opposite direction (except when you are on the opposite side of a divided highway/dual carriageway). This is to allow children to safely cross the road.
Related Subjects
Slide Ahead and Slide Area Ahead
Warning of an actual landslide or that the road ahead is liable to landslides and/or rock falls.
Slow Vehicles Use Turnouts
A reminder to drivers of slow vehicles on mountain roads that when there are more than a certain number of vehicles behind them, they must pull off the road into a turnout (lay-by) to allow the other vehicles to pass. The critical number of vehicles is five in California but it might differ in some other states.
Slow Vehicle Warning Triangle
Slow vehicles must display a reflective red triangle on the rear. The main triangle is a medium shade of red and there is a fairly thick border of a darker shade of red. The triangle is oriented with one of its points at the top. Vehicles requiring this sign include farm vehicles, construction equipment vehicles and vehicles drawn by animals, such as the horsedrawn buggies used by the Amish communities in regions of Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Steep Grade Ahead
This road sign indicates that there is a steep hill ahead. The sign often includes the gradient.
Thickly Settled
In some rural areas of Massachusetts you may see warning road signs with the wording "Thickly Settled". These indicate that you are approaching what is regarded as a built-up area. In our experience, this usually means two buildings within a mile of each other.
Tow Away Zone
A road sign with an image of a car being towed indicates a tow away zone. If you park in a tow away zone then your vehicle is liable to be towed away and you will incur both a large fine and the not insignificant tow fee. Tow-away fines are particularly heavy for parking in a space reserved for handicapped people without the relevant permit.
Truck Route
A road sign showing a truck, as seen from the back, indicates a truck route. This is a route round a town which must be used by through trucks.
Tsunami Evacuation Route
A tsunami is a tidal wave. Along the Oregon and Washington State coasts there are road signs indicating tsunami evacuation routes. These signs are circular, with a blue background and white foreground text and images.
Vehicles With Lugs Prohibited
Lugs appear to be projections from wheels which damage normal road surfaces. Presumably they may be fitted on some agricultural, military and road construction vehicles to gain traction on off-road surfaces.
Weigh Station Ahead
Weigh Stations are often located on Interstate highways close to state lines. They are for trucks and commercial vehicles only, to check that they are not exceeding their legal weight limits. Normal cars should not enter weigh stations. In any case, weigh stations are often closed.
Wrong Way
This sign indicates that you have entered a divided highway (dual carriageway) travelling in the wrong direction, which is obviously an extremely dangerous situation. You should immediately pull over to whichever shoulder is closest, switch on your hazard warning lights, and then wait until you are sure that it is safe to turn round.
"Wrong Way" signs are usually located a short distance after "Do Not Enter" signs.
Another indication of travelling in the wrong direction on a divided highway or a one-way road is to see a yellow line on your right instead of on your left as normal.
Driving
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Driving - Road Signs
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Most recently modified 15-Jun-03